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Topic: Foreign tourists to pay double to use New Zealand's great walks (Read 330 times)

i had to laugh at this article in theguardian.com duel pricing is not only in Thailand but also applies to New Zealand's great walks

Price rise, part of a trial to raise money for maintenance and combat overcrowding, will apply to the popular Milford Track among others

The Milford Track in New Zealand, known as ‘the finest walk in the world’. Photograph: Murdo Macleod for the Guardian

Tourists to New Zealand will soon have to pay double the fee that locals do to use huts and campsites located on some of the country’s great walks.

The move is part of a trial by the government that seeks to gain extra revenue to maintain the network of walks – one of the country’s major tourist drawcards.'World’s finest walk': New Zealand’s Milford Track being spoiled by tourist hordesRead more

“New Zealand’s nine great walks are premier tracks that pass through unique and spectacular scenery and are a magnet for international visitors,” said the conservation minister, Eugenie Sage.

She said the seven-month trial from October will provide information on the effectiveness of pricing as a tool to manage visitor pressure.

“It is also part of setting and maintaining a fair pricing system for New Zealanders.”

If ticket revenue was visibly used for maintenance and improvements, the argument for dual pricing would be stronger,but is it. the argument of foreign tourists always having more money is far from the truth these days. bear this in mind. the more money spent on sight seeing, the less people have to spend on the local economy. so no wins.